Destiny Character Art Outsourcing Specialist (Mid to Senior)

We are looking for a skilled and dedicated Character Art Outsource Specialist to join our team. As a Character Art Outsource Specialist, you will be responsible for managing the outsourcing process of character art assets. Your primary focus will be on ensuring the delivery of high-quality art from external vendors which conforms to the artistic vision and technical requirements. Additionally, you will be involved in overseeing the integration of assets into the game engine and creating your own game assets from time to time.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee the outsourcing of character art assets through all stages of development, including block-out, high and low poly modeling, texturing, and integration. Collaborate with external vendors to ensure timely delivery while maintaining the desired quality standards.
• Work closely with the Art Leads, Art Directors, Technical Artists and Concept Artists to understand and communicate the artistic vision, style, and technical specifications for characters in the game. Provide clear and concise feedback to vendors to ensure adherence to the desired aesthetic and quality.
• Follow the teams’ review process to ensure that all outsourced character art assets meet the project's artistic and technical standards. Conduct thorough reviews, provide detailed feedback, and collaborate with vendors to address any necessary revisions or improvements.
• Work closely with internal teams (including Producers, 3D Modelers, Technical Artists, Concept Artists, and VFX Artists), to define and communicate the scope of work for character art outsourcing tasks. Track and manage the art asset pipeline and deliveries to ensure alignment with project schedules.
• Stay up to date with the latest industry trends, tools, and techniques related to character art in video games. Provide guidance and support to vendors in implementing optimal workflows, file formats, and technical requirements for character art production.

For Senior level candidates, in addition to the above responsibilities, we are targeting:

• Help foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing by providing support to team members and by creating and maintaining detailed documentation.
• Identify areas for process improvement, efficiency gains, and quality enhancement within the character art outsourcing pipeline. Collaborate with internal teams to implement best practices, tools, and workflows to optimize the production process.
• Identify areas within the team where ownership or expertise is needed and take on the additional responsibility to own them. Be an expert that others come to for guidance.
• Depending on needs of the organization, possibly manage other members of the team to help them develop their skills, find fulfillment, etc.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Experience in character art production, outsourcing, or related roles within the video game industry. Strong knowledge of character design principles, anatomy, modeling techniques, and texturing processes.
• Portfolio showcasing exceptional character design and art skills.
• Ability to provide clear artistic direction, feedback, and constructive criticism to maintain visual consistency and quality standards.
• Keen eye for quality control and the ability to identify and address potential issues or improvements within character art assets. Strong problem-solving skills to troubleshoot technical and artistic challenges.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills to effectively liaise with internal teams and external vendors. Ability to articulate artistic vision, provide guidance, and resolve any conflicts in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a diverse team environment, fostering positive relationships and promoting a culture of creativity, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Genuine enthusiasm for video games, character design, and the gaming industry as a whole. A deep understanding of character aesthetics in video games and the ability to align with different art styles is highly desirable.

For Senior level candidates, in addition to the above required skills, we are targeting:

• Experience as a senior level artist and/ or hands-on experience as an outsource specialist in the video games industry. Deep understanding of all aspects of 3d character art asset creation and outsourcing art content for video games.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities to manage multiple character art outsourcing assets simultaneously. Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies is highly desirable.
• Experience managing one or more direct reports.